Page 7 - The Importance of Common Metrics for Advacing Social Science Theory and Research

The Importance of Common Metrics for Advancing Social Science Theory and Research: A Workshop Summary
http://www.nap.edu/catalog/13034.html

Preface

In February 2010, the National Research Council (NRC) convened a
workshop to investigate the feasibility of developing well-grounded com-
mon metrics to advance behavioral and social science research, both in
terms of advancing the development of theory and increasing the utility
of research for policy and practice. A planning committee was appointed
by the NRC’s Division of Behavioral and Social Sciences and Education
(DBASSE) to organize the event, structure the sessions, select the partici-
pants, and ensure that the workshop would address the variety of research
methods and data sets.
The workshop would not have been possible without the generous
support and leadership provided by the William and Flora Hewlett Foun-
dation. Marshall S. Smith, while at Hewlett, proposed the topic of com-
mon metrics as one in need of exploration. We are especially grateful to
the planning committee members and other experts who responded to our
request for background papers: Norman M. Bradburn, National Opinion
Research Center and the University of Chicago; Nancy D. Cartwright, Lon-
don School of Economics and University of California, San Diego; Dennis
Fryback, University of Wisconsin, Madison; David B. Grusky, Stanford
University; Robert M. Hauser, Division of Behavioral and Social Sciences
and Education, National Research Council, Washington, DC, and Vilas Re-
search Professor, Emeritus, University of Wisconsin, Madison; Rick Hoyle,
Duke University; Robert T. Michael, University of Chicago; Geoff Mulgan,
The Young Foundation; Robert A. Pollak, Washington University, St. Louis,
Missouri; C. Matthew Snipp, Stanford University; John Robert Warren,

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